The road was closed for six hours while collision investigators carried out inquiries, and re-opened at around 9pm.

A spokesman for the GNAAS confirmed that a doctor from the charity treated a woman at the scene before flying her to hospital.

He said: “At 2.45pm the Great North Air Ambulance Service was called to Stargate, near Ryton, where two people were critically injured in a single vehicle road traffic collision. Working alongside the North East Ambulance Service, we assessed both patients.

“An elderly male was taken to hospital by road.

“Our doctor led trauma team administered blood and anaesthetic to a 19-year-old female who was then flown to the Royal Victoria Infirmary.

“The flight took four minutes and the patient was critical on arrival.”